|
Need Help?
|
|
Call
1-800-372-3706
to
speak to a Veterinary Behavior Technician |
|
Paws To Speak!
Member
Main Menu
|
 |
|
Help is at your
fingertips by library, email and
phone. |
 |
Of course your new Pet is adorable and our instinct is to reward them for each and every cute thing they do. Unfortunately, instead of providing the leadership role for our Pet, we often do the opposite.
Help your new Pet learn the correct way through "Learn to Earn." Make sure your cat associates you with all the resources - food, praise, positive attention, and freedom. Never provide a resource when your guinea pig is misbehaving or demanding it. Simple cause and effect teaches your
guinea pig to shape his own behavior. You want your Pet to figure out and learn from you what behaviors gain your approval and the goods.
Safety. Your guinea pigs
are safest when they are inside
of their pen. Being in their pen
also helps them to learn to go
potty there and to chew on the
things you given them.
Bonding. As your guinea
pigs learn to trust you, they
will also learn to come when you
call them and to allow you to
gently pick them up. When that
day comes, you may want to give
them the freedom of exploring
the room outside of their pen.
Gentle interruptions. At
that time, it will be most
helpful if your pigs have
learned to come when called so
that you can call them away from
chewing on any items that are
not theirs.
Litter training. Some
guinea pigs will return to their
pens to go potty, so leave one
end of the pen open to give them
a feeling of safety and to see
if they will learn to go potty
in their pens when given
freedom.
No scolding. Never
scold your guinea pig for
beginning to chew on a household
item or for not coming when
called. Scolding only makes your
guinea pig afraid of you. Guinea
pigs are prey animals and easily
frightened.
No force. Do not force
your guinea pigs
to conform to regimented
routines. Instead, use
gentle methods
to
enrich your pig's lives
with
lifelong learning. Discover behavior
training as one of the most
fascinating and enjoyable
activities you can share
with your
guinea pig.
|
Punishment
may temporarily stop a behavior
but may also drive the Pets away
from people. When
Guinea Pigs
learn from reward
based, gentle training, they tend to be
more friendly and social. |
Normal behaviors.
Most
guinea pigs simply live out their genetic code and what they learned as
young pigs.
Positive Pet Parenting.
Raise a
loving, confident, gentle, friendly pig by helping your guinea pigs to see you
as the provider of everything
they love such as food, treats,
toys, affection, and freedom.
|
Ideal guinea pig
personalities develop
when
pigs
trust people. |
What to do
If
you catch your guinea pig
starting to chew on household items,
try to interrupt the
chewing behavior without
your pig seeing you.
Then provide an item that your pig can chew from
their pen.
Interruptions -
stop unwanted behaviors
-
Clap
your hands
-
Pat the floor
Rewards
- increase wanted behaviors
-
A reward
is anything your
guinea pigs enjoy
such as
praise, tasty food,
and toys.
If your pig isn't social, then
being left alone is a
reward.
-
Guinea pigs
are very social and
do adopt people as
family and therefore respond
well to praise.
-
Guinea pigs repeat behaviors that
result in desired
consequences. Think about
how your guinea pig is learning by cause and
effect.
-
Call your guinea pig
to you saying the pig's name
and hand feed the daily
portion of fresh vegetable
and the occasional food
treat.
|
You can establish
law and order in your household
by following the principles of
INTERRUPT,
REDIRECT, and REWARD your guinea
pigs. |
|
Print
Helping All Pets become Happy, Lifetime Learners.